Combined wet and dry pipe valve.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

AI So COMBINED WET AND DRY PIPE VALVE.

0 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CZOJED WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS Fzrlms Cm, wAsumaIo/v, n. c

No. 886,629. PATENTED MAY. 5, 1908 A. s. NIOOL. COMBINED WET AND DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9

9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

4192 1 Nicol.

BY dllaz I J ATTORNEYS 1n: NORRIS Flu-Ins cm, was"! NGTON. o. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALEXANDER S. NIOOL, OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

COMBINED WET AND DRY PIPE VALVE.

Application filed August 9, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER S. NIooL, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Chehalis and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Combined Vet and Dry Pipe Valve, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention, in its general nature, relates to improvements in automatic sprinkler systems for buildings, and it primarily has for its object to provide an improved type of automatic valve mechanism which will automatically actuate an; alarm when water passes through the same, and which is adapted for use on either the wet or dry pipe plan.

Heretofore, so far as I know, it has been the practice, when using the wet and dry plan sprinkling systems, to accomplish the desired results, two separate valve mechanisms have been employed, requiring special adjustment for setting the system to operate on either the wet or dry plan.

Generically, my invention comprehends a single complete mechanism in which a plurality of valves are cooperatively combined and so arranged that when used on the dry pipe plan a predetermined water pressure in one direction will be held in check by a lower air pressure against the controlling valve and when used on the wet pipe plan, any circulation of water through the controlling valve will set in operation the alarm mechanism.

In its more complete nature, my invention embodies a single valve casing, having air inlets, a plurality of valves mounted in said casing, counterbalanced trip mechanism for holding the valves to a normal position, and closure devices for closing said air inlets when the trip mechanism is automatically released by the automatic opening of the controlling valves within the casing.

In its more subordinate features, my in vention consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved construction of valve mechanism. Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the same showing the valve mechanism adjusted to a closed position with the air pressure on, the equipment being of the dry pipe plan. Fig. 3, is a similar view, the main controlling valves being open, the supplemental valves Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 329,868.

for closing off the air inlets to the casing, the parts being in positionto provide for actuating the alarm. 4, is a vertical section of my improved valve mechanism showing the same as set for a wet pipe equipment. Fig. 5, is a similar view showing the parts in position for actuating the alarm mechanism when used for a wet pipe equipment. Fig. 6, is a detail view of the main valve and the trip controlled adjusting devices that coact therewith. Fig. 7, is a sectional view of a slightly modified construction of my valve mechanism hereinafter specifically referred to.

In the practical application of my invention, I provide a single valve casing A, preferably formed of three sections 1, 2 and 3, each provided with suitably arranged manhole and closure therefor, designated 10, 20, 30 to provide for the removal of the valves for setting my mechanismfor operative use on either wet or dry pipe equipments or for removing all or either of the several valves for adjusting or replacing their packing rings.

One of the casing sections designated 1, forms the inlet end, as the same joins with the water supply pipe S and the one designated 3 connects with the outlet or ofl'take pipe 0 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each of the casing sections has a valve seat, the several seats being designated a b and c and with each of the seats engage the- The valve 1) which is located in the intermediate casing section 2, is also provided with a packing ring 5 to engage with the wide seat 6 which, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, has an annular groove 5 that communicates with an outlet 4 through the casing section 2 with which connects a valved pipe 5, in practice, suitably connected with an alarm mechanism (not shown) arranged to be actuated by a water jet passing through the pipe 5, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The valve casing A, at a point in alinement with the stem 6 of the valve a, has an air port in the shape of a taperingopening through which the valve stem 6 passes and which, when'the valve a is shifted to its open position, is automatically closed by a tapering plug or supplemental valve 61 mounted on the stem 6, as shown, and the said casing, at a point in alinement with a stem '7 that coacts with the valve 0 has a similar air inlet 7 O, which, when i the valve 0 is opened, is automaticallyjclosed by the plug or supplemental valve 71 ,011 the stem 7.

a point intermediate the valves a and c, the casing has an outlet 8 that opens into a valved oiftake pipe which in. practice leads to a suitable alarm mechanism (not shown) arranged. to be set in operation by a water stream passing through the pipe 80, and at a point above the valve 0 the casing has a valved drain pipe 9.

l/Vhen my invention is utilized. in a dry pipe equipment, the valve 1) has no special function, and in practice, is preferably removed from the valve casing to reduce friction on the water flowing through the casing.

i/Vhen the parts are at their normal position as in Fig. 2, the valve a is held to its seat by hold back devices, which, when set, are held to their adjusted positions by the closure of the outlet valve 0, which is held down to its seat by the air pressure on top of it, which may be and preferably is, less than the water pressure on the valve inlet a, and but slightly in excess of the atmospheric pressure in the valve casing between the valves (1 and c, which is provided for by the air inlets 60 and 70 before referred to.

The locking devices before referred to consist of the stem 7 which extends through the casing and presses down on a trigger 10 pivotally mounted on the outside of the aasing, which has a lock notch. 11 for engaging the latch lever 12 pivoted to the bracket piece 13 on the casing and which carries an adjustable screw bearing 14 that normally engages the outer end of the stem of valve a.

Combined with the trigger 1. U is a weighted lever 16 pivotally mounted on the casing on whose outer end is adjustably mounted. a counterpoise 17 and whose inner end. en gages the under side of the outer end of the trigger 10', as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The object of the weighted lever 16 is that in case the water pressure forward of the valve ct should be a low pressure, there would be a liability of accidental -water column forming and holding valve 0 down on its seat, which would prevent the opening of valve (L.

By providing the weighted lever, the weight thereon can be so adjusted that it will lift a column of water 20 feet (more or less) high above the valve 0, it being understood. that proper allowance would be provided for for the assistance the lever would receive from the water pressure at the inlet end. of the valve casing.

It will be noticed the stem or member 7 is not rigidly connected to the valve 0 but is composed of two pivotally connected portions, the upper one of which is connected to the other above the vent closing valve, and the said upper member is arranged. to engage seems a seat or hearing on the under side ol valve 0 when the latter is closed and the valve 0 is hinged to a link member 18 in turn pivotally connected to the inside of the casing section 3, so that the valve can be opened back llatwise and thereby reduce frictional resistance 011 the water flowing past the said valve.

When my invention. is used on the dry pipe plan, a suitable amount of priming water is sustained above the valve 0, in practirw, about four or five inches in depth, and. this water acts as a cushion between the air and valve 0.

The drain pipe above valve 0 is normally shut off and is used only when it is desired to draw the water from the pipes when changing my valve mechanism from a wet to a dry plan, and in practice, a cut oil gate (not. shown) is provided in. the feed or inlet pipe for shutting elf the water supply when it is desired to gain access to valve a or to apply or remove casing A.

The parts being arranged as shown in F 2, by reason of the construction and combination thereof as described, when air pressure above valve 0 is reduced, the said valve instantly rises through the counterpoise action and the water pressure which now opens valve a and passes up against valve 0, it being understood that the opening of the valves (I, and e, effects the instantaneous closure of the air inlets to the casing, it being also understood that after starting the stem 7 and the valve 0 up, the lever 16 slips from the trigger 10' and thus permits the latch lever that holds the valve (I, to drop down and release valve a to permit it freely moving back to the position shown in Fig. 3, which shows the position of the parts when the water flows through the valve casing and into the olftake pipe that leads to the alarm mechanism.

When my invention is utilized in a wet pipe system, the valve 0 is dispensed with and the valve Z) is mounted over its seat, as clearly shown in Fig. 4;, by reference to which it will be noticed that when the system pipes and the valve casing have the main or feed pipe pressure, pressure on each. side of valve 1; is equalized and the said valve, by gravitation, closes oil the outlet channel l) to the o'l'ltakc connected. therewith, it being understood that when my valve mechanism is utilized in the wet pipe system, the locking devices are inert, and the valve 01, is normally forced back to cause the plug valve on its stem to close the air inlet 60, the other inlet 70 being new similarly closed by the fluid pressure against the plug valve in stem. 7.

Now, when the parts are assembled, as in Fig. 1, a reduction of the water pressure above valve 1) at once provides for circular-- tion of water past the valve 1) and in consequence a portion of the water passes oil through channel I) to the o'll'take in com-- 'lOO Inunication therewith for actuating an alarm or signaling mechanism.

While I prefer to arrange the valve 1) within the casing A between valves (1 and c,

I do not limit myself to such cooperative relation of the valves a, b and 0 since valve 5 may be located at any suitable point in the distributing pipes,- either above valve 0 or in advance of valve a, for example, as shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed the complete construction, the operation and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a valve mechanism of the character described, with the casing, the slidable inlet controlling valve, the hinged outlet valve and the valved offtake connected with the casing between the inlet and outlet valves, said casing having air inlets; of means for positively holding the in let valve to its closed position, means controlled by the valves for closing the air inlets at predetermined times, and trip devices controlled by the closure of the outlet valve for releasing the means that holds the inlet valve to its closed position when the outlet valve automatically rises, as set forth.

2. A valve mechanism for the purposes described, comprising a casing, having a pair of valved ofitakes intermediate its inlet and outlet ends, a valve for controlling the outlet end, normally closed by fluid pressure above it, a normally closed valve in the casing between the inlet and outlet valves that cuts out one of the valved olftakes; and means for holding the inlet valve closed, said means being held to the valve closing position by the closure pressure'of the outlet valve and adapted to automatically release said inlet valve when the outlet valve opens, as set forth.

3. In a water distributing means of the character described, the combination with the distributing pipe sections; of a valve casing connected thereto, consisting of three sections, a valve detachably mounted in the inlet casing section, a valve detachably mounted in the outlet section, an automatically closed valve detachably mounted in the intermediate section, the outlet valve being normally closed by fluid pressure against it, means for holding the inlet valve normally to its closed position controlled by the closure action of the outlet valve, and. a pair of valved offtakes joined with the intermediate casing sections, one of which is normally held closed from the water supply by the valve in the intermediate chamber, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. In a valve mechanism of the character described, the combination with the casing, a check valve in the inlet end having a stem. projected through the casing, a hinged valve in the outlet end, a plunger that projects outside the casing and is engaged by the hinged valve when closed, the latter being normally closed by air pressure against it, a pivoted pusher arm that engages the stem of the inlet valve, a latch for holding said arm to its pushing position, said latch being'held to its operative position by the plunger engaged by the hinged valve and a counterpoise that engages the outer end of the latch, all being arranged substantially in the manner shown and for the purposes described.

ALEXANDER S. NICOL. l/Vitnesses WVILL A. DAHL, J OI-IN ALLAN. 

